When it comes to intense flavor of acid-based, tomato sauces, you can choose ingredients. Avoid long cooking times (unless you use fresh tomatoes) by just using the best prepared, unsalted sauce or paste... adding spices and ingredients during cooking. 

The most important technique to infuse flavor from the added spices, is cooling it quickly and storing it, overnight, at least two days is optimal. Salt must always be added at the end of the process, as it will impede cooking.